Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Why I Think Kids Should Game
After some research I have started to use gaming as a teaching tool in my class. It has become a success and I look forward to utilizing it whenever I can.
How does gaming work in teaching? I would like you to watch this video. Even though I am an avid gamer I did approach the subject with some skepticism. This video convinced me. Tell me what you think. Afterward, please visit filamentgames.com (in the resource center).
How does gaming work in teaching? I would like you to watch this video. Even though I am an avid gamer I did approach the subject with some skepticism. This video convinced me. Tell me what you think. Afterward, please visit filamentgames.com (in the resource center).
Welcome
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| Jai Hale explores the inside of a computer. |
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| Trinity examines a seed under magnification. |
We have already had a GREAT year in science studies.
I would like to use this newsletter to share some of those adventures with you.
My goal is to continue to raise the quality of science education at Cambridge School and prepare our students with the tools needed to be assets in the 21st century job market. There are enough unfilled jobs in the sciences to drive down the unemployment rate and provide secure and meaningful jobs for our children. Once more, they don't need to be inventors or ground-breaking chemists. They just need an education that prepares them for the work.
I would like to use this newsletter to share some of those adventures with you.
My goal is to continue to raise the quality of science education at Cambridge School and prepare our students with the tools needed to be assets in the 21st century job market. There are enough unfilled jobs in the sciences to drive down the unemployment rate and provide secure and meaningful jobs for our children. Once more, they don't need to be inventors or ground-breaking chemists. They just need an education that prepares them for the work.
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| Deja and Khalil experiment with genetics. |
So here we are at, what President Obama called, a "Sputnik Moment" where the challenges we face are outstripped by our students preparation to meet them. It is my mission to transform Science from a memorization of facts to the adoption of an attitude (curiosity) and method (Scientific Inquiry).
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| Solomon employes a luster test to identify a rock sample |
In light of that, you will be noticing an evolution in the type of study we'll be doing and the content of our assessments. The last quarter was a transition period of primarily fact learning. In the second quarter, the ability to store facts will become less important and the ability to think critically will come to the forefront.
That means that the flash cards will become less useful and my test and quizzes will become "cram-proof". Either I will be successful in teaching the skill or we will have to approach it again. Memorizing random information on Wednesday only to for get on Thursday will not work in this class. This is a bad habit, that unfortunately, an inferior school system supports.
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| Tyler dissects a flower to learn about plant reproduction |
As always, to the left are some parent resources that I encourage you to explore.
Since I am convinced that the bulk of my parents DO NOT read my newsletters, I am going to do an experiment. I will give 10 pts. extra credit to any student whose parents e-mail me with an answers to these questions:
Why is science an important subject?
What can you do at home to promote science learning?
email your answers to araines@cambridgechicago.com
Look forward to talking with you again.
-- Mr. Raines
Monday, February 14, 2011
February 14, 2011
I am so glad to be sharing the adventures of my Science, Math, Art, and Technology classes. This is a great opportunity for you to know what's going on my classes and the reasoning behind my teaching methods.
Science
We are gearing up for the Science Fair this year. I hope that you are ready. As I mention every year, I look forward to this being a student led project. If you have questions about the Science Fair, I encourage you to look at my entry from last year here Scientific What's-it? . This will help you understand the approach to a science fair project and maybe give you some ideas.
In class, we are learning about the environment and habitats and how humans interact with and effect nature. It would be nice if you could encourage your child to look up from the video games the next time you are driving through a wooded or rural area and pay attention to the nature around them. Compare this to how they encounter nature in the city.
Art
I am approaching the art of narrativeand illustrative craftsmanship by having my students create their own comic strips. Before you roll your eyes I encourage you watch the two videos below. I have a link to the Pixon.com site in my parent resource center. Comics have some definite advantages, especially for vocabulary building and inference. I would never advocate them as a replacement for conventional reading, but they are certainly a useful tool.
Using Pixton Comics as a Learning Tool from Knowledge Essentials on Vimeo.
Math
The third grade science class has started Algebra. We took our time with number sense in the first quarter and, while it tried all of our patience, it payed off in an easier understanding of mathematics and an innate understanding of algorithms. Now we are speeding through chapters. We have learned how to transform a sentence into a mathematical expression and how to solve for variables. These are not ideas that I approached until I was in the sixth grade and my third grade students are completing their assignments easily.
This quarter I am integrating Saxon worksheets into the curriculum so that students do not become rusty on previous lessons. If you wish to give your student more practice, I recommend superkids.com and superteacherworksheets.com for customizable practice sheets that your child can do at home. They are both listed in the Parent Resource center at the right of this page.
TuxMath is an arcade style game that has become quite popular with the students. It is one of the best reinforcement tools since Rocket Ship Math.
Thank you for your help an continued support. Please follow this blog for weekly updates or contact me if you have any questions.
-- Mr. Raines
Science
We are gearing up for the Science Fair this year. I hope that you are ready. As I mention every year, I look forward to this being a student led project. If you have questions about the Science Fair, I encourage you to look at my entry from last year here Scientific What's-it? . This will help you understand the approach to a science fair project and maybe give you some ideas.
In class, we are learning about the environment and habitats and how humans interact with and effect nature. It would be nice if you could encourage your child to look up from the video games the next time you are driving through a wooded or rural area and pay attention to the nature around them. Compare this to how they encounter nature in the city.
Art
I am approaching the art of narrativeand illustrative craftsmanship by having my students create their own comic strips. Before you roll your eyes I encourage you watch the two videos below. I have a link to the Pixon.com site in my parent resource center. Comics have some definite advantages, especially for vocabulary building and inference. I would never advocate them as a replacement for conventional reading, but they are certainly a useful tool.
Using Pixton Comics as a Learning Tool from Knowledge Essentials on Vimeo.
Math
The third grade science class has started Algebra. We took our time with number sense in the first quarter and, while it tried all of our patience, it payed off in an easier understanding of mathematics and an innate understanding of algorithms. Now we are speeding through chapters. We have learned how to transform a sentence into a mathematical expression and how to solve for variables. These are not ideas that I approached until I was in the sixth grade and my third grade students are completing their assignments easily.
This quarter I am integrating Saxon worksheets into the curriculum so that students do not become rusty on previous lessons. If you wish to give your student more practice, I recommend superkids.com and superteacherworksheets.com for customizable practice sheets that your child can do at home. They are both listed in the Parent Resource center at the right of this page.
TuxMath is an arcade style game that has become quite popular with the students. It is one of the best reinforcement tools since Rocket Ship Math.
Thank you for your help an continued support. Please follow this blog for weekly updates or contact me if you have any questions.
-- Mr. Raines
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